Page 30 of Grey
“I won’t go anywhere, and I will call if I see anything.” She shivered despite the already hot morning. “I hope I don’t have to call.”
Zara squeezed her shoulder. “We hope so too.”
The two scouted the library together while she turned on all the lights, and then they stayed in the parking lot until Mrs. Fielder arrived right before the library was set to open. She waved goodbye and flipped the lock so the doors were unlocked.
“Is everything okay?” Mrs. Fielder asked as she walked back into the main room from the breakroom.
“Sure, why?”
“You had someone waiting in the parking lot until I got here.”
“Oh, that was Grey’s friend and his girlfriend.” She knew she couldn’t tell Mrs. Fielder anything about what was going on, but she had to tell her something. Not a proponent of outright lying, she told her half of the truth. “Grey and I are getting closer and I’ve stayed at the farmhouse with him and his friends for the last couple nights. It’s temporary because I’m not sure I’m ready to jump into living with him full time just yet. Anyway, my car isstill at my cabin, so Crew and Zara brought me here, and Crew is a nice guy and didn’t want to leave me alone in the library, so he waited for you to show up.”
“That’s kind of him,” she said. “What’s keeping you from wanting to move in full time?”
She hummed. “I was thinking about it on the drive here, actually. I’m not sure, it just feels too soon? My last relationship was really so awful and I stayed far too long. I’m not gun-shy about a relationship, because I really feel like Grey is my forever guy, but I can’t shake the little voice in my head that keeps wanting to put the brakes on.”
Mrs. Fielder nodded sagely. “That little voice is a bastard.”
Tatum grinned.
“Well, you’re the only one who knows when the time is right for you, so if you want to say you’re staying there temporarily, then that’s fine. But I’m pretty sure after a few days you might as well just admit that you’re okay with living there.”
“That’s a good point.”
“I have them from time to time.”
“What was the fastest you ever fell in love with someone?”
“My husband, may he rest in peace, was the love of my life and I fell in love with him the moment I met him. I made him work for it, of course—I didn’t tell him I was in love with him until I was very sure he loved me. But truthfully, I could have told him the night we met that I was in love with him. It was light love, easy love, the kind of love where you don’t mind that they have annoying habits or that they snore. I think we can fall in love fast, but that the love changes with time and deepens as we get to know each other.”
“How long was it before you told him you loved him?”
“A few weeks. He told me first, though.”
“Did you ever get tired of the snoring?”
“Yes! I used to throw my pillow at him. Now that he’s been gone for ten years, I still find myself missing the sound.” She wrapped her warm hands around Tatum’s. “It’s okay to fall in love on whatever time frame works for you. Just don’t tell yourself it’s too early or it hasn’t been long enough, because the sweetest fruit sometimes is the earliest one on the vine.”
Tatum thought that was a beautiful sentiment. “You could have been a poet.”
“I might give that a try sometime. Now, I’m off to check the drop box before the heat makes me melt.”
Tatum watched her coworker disappear out the front door and then sent a quick text to Grey.
I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re a really special guy. I’m glad I met you.
Even though she didn’t expect him to answer her since he was sleeping, he did a few minutes later.You’re really special to me too, sweetheart. See you in a few hours.
Putting her phone away, she got to work, excited to see her soulmate.
When Grey pulled into the gravel drive of the farmhouse later that afternoon, Tatum felt like she could breathe a little easier. She’d really hated being away from him and was looking forward to not having to part ways until Monday.
She stepped out of the truck and closed the door, inhaling the sweet summer air.
“Would you like to take a walk?” he asked as he came around to her.
“Sure. Where to?”
